Congress Set to Vote on Controversial Bill That Would Expand 'God Squad' Authority
Republicans in Congress are preparing to vote on legislation that would significantly broaden the powers of the so-called "God Squad" and dismantle crucial protections under the Endangered Species Act. The vote, scheduled for Wednesday, has sparked urgent opposition from nearly 300 environmental organizations who are calling on House members to reject the measure.
Earth Day Timing Adds to Controversy
The timing of this legislative push has drawn particular criticism, as it coincides with Earth Day observances. Environmental groups argue that the bill represents a direct assault on America's wildlife conservation efforts at a time when biodiversity protection should be prioritized.
The proposed legislation follows last month's attempt by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration's God Squad – officially known as the seven-member Cabinet-level Endangered Species Committee – to remove endangered species restrictions in the Gulf of Mexico.
Westerman's ESA Amendments Act
The bill, introduced by Arkansas Republican Representative Bruce Westerman, is formally titled the ESA Amendments Act of 2025. Westerman, who is the only licensed forester in Congress, claims the 1973 Endangered Species Act needs updating "for the sake of both the environment and the economy."
"My bill will implement necessary measures to take the power away from litigious environmental activist groups who openly profit off weaponizing species management," Westerman said in a March statement. "Instead, it will give more responsibilities to state, local and tribal governments who often times have a much better understanding of the species, their needs and their habitats."
Environmental Groups Sound Alarm
Environmental organizations have responded with strong opposition, warning that thousands of threatened and endangered species could be placed in jeopardy if the bill passes. In a letter shared with The Independent, nearly 300 groups wrote: "At a time when we should be redoubling our commitment to protect biodiversity and stop extinction, this bill would instead make many of the ESA's most important protections virtually meaningless and set the precedent of using politics, rather than science, for conservation decision-making."
The groups further argued that state governments lack "sufficient resources or legal mechanisms" to effectively take over species conservation efforts. They warned the legislation would "place significant new administrative burdens on already overburdened agencies" and create "a far lengthier process that precludes judicial review of key decisions."
Dispute Over ESA Effectiveness
Westerman has pointed to statistics showing that only 3 percent of species listed as endangered or threatened have been recovered since the ESA's implementation under Republican President Richard Nixon. "The Endangered Species Act has consistently failed to achieve its intended goals," the congressman asserted.
However, conservation scientists offer a different perspective. Cornell University researchers noted in 2005 that recovery rates might be "a poor measure" of the ESA's success because "few species have been protected under the ESA long enough to reach full recovery."
More recent research has shown that species living in protected areas for two or more years were more than twice as likely to have improving populations in the late 1990s. Scientists wrote in 2016: "The proportion of species improving increased, and the proportion declining decreased, with increasing time listed throughout the 1990s, irrespective of critical habitat and recovery plans."
The ESA's Conservation Record
According to the World Wildlife Foundation, the Endangered Species Act has prevented the extinction of more than 99 percent of listed species since its passage in 1973. The National Wildlife Federation highlights successful protections for species including California condors, bald eagles, and Hawaiian monk seals.
Susan Holmes, executive director for the Endangered Species Coalition, emphasized: "The Endangered Species Act works because it is rooted in science and because it recognizes a simple truth: once a species is gone, it is gone forever. We should not allow politicians to dismantle protections that have saved bald eagles, gray whales, peregrine falcons and so many other species from disappearing forever."
Ongoing Legal Challenges
The controversy extends beyond the congressional vote, with environmentalists pointing to the God Squad's recent action regarding Rice's whales in the Gulf of Mexico. Conservation groups argue that waiving protections for these critically endangered creatures effectively sentences them to extinction, and this decision is currently being challenged in court.
Republicans have been attempting to modify the Endangered Species Act for nearly two decades, with efforts dating back to the 2010s. The current vote comes as the Trump administration continues to push for expanded drilling capabilities across public lands, adding another layer to the environmental policy debate.
